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A recent history of the Town Common

The Lowell Sun

Updated:
11/18/2012 06:41:47 AM EST

Spring 1977 -- Shovels hit dirt and the current layout of streets lining the Town Common is born. About four years before construction started, several residents fearing the new rotary would result in the destruction of several trees stood in the way of bulldozers and scored a victory when the Common was added to the National Historic Register. A hut that had stood at the intersection of Boston and Andover roads -- from which a police officer would direct traffic (there was no stop light) -- was moved to the River Street island, along with the old horse trough.

Feb. 25, 2002 -- Selectmen approve a $1.5 million plan aimed at better balancing the flow of traffic and pedestrians in the center, as sidewalk space would increase, new traffic signals would be introduced and walkways leading to the Common would be created. The plan does not call for changing the direction of traffic.

Jan. 23, 2006 -- Delayed by budget issues, the Town Common redesign is scuttled after selectmen learn the the true cost has more than doubled to $3.1 million.

March 31, 2011 -- A Northern Middlesex Council of Governments town center visioning session draws nearly 100 residents in an icy storm. A PowerPoint presentation shows that there were more than 110 auto accidents in three years. Attendees were given color-coded stickers meant to show where their priorities lie. Most stickers point to one place: a pedestrian-unfriendly town center.

Feb. 6, 2012 -- An engineering group presents selectmen with two concepts.

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One calls for returning two-way traffic to Boston Road while reducing the stretch of Concord Road on the west side of the Common to a single lane flowing north. Utilities would be buried, sidewalk space would increase and access between the common and the library would drastically improve. The other plan retained the current traffic flow.

March 15, 2012 -- A subcommittee of the Traffic Management Committee unveils the proposal during a Town Hall meeting, attended by about 50 residents.

April 10, 2012 -- The subcommittee unanimously forwards the proposal to the full committee.

April 24, 2012 -- The full Traffic Management Committee votes to forward the proposal to selectmen. Selectmen later approve the plan 4-1.

Aug. 16, 2012 -- The seven-member Historic District Commission reviews the plan for the first time. It is met with excitement, but members decide several tweaks are needed to preserve the historic feel of the Common, such as introducing decorative brick banding to the sidewalk layout.

Sept. 6, 2012 -- The Historic District Commission gives the project a green light, meaning it's officially on the table for fall Town Meeting.

Sept. 10, 2012 -- Days after the Historic District Commission votes in favor of the project, Selectman Michael Rosa charges that selectmen violated the Town Charter over the summer by appointing members to the commission after the 10-day application deadline. He argues that the oversight means any work performed by the commission should be reversed, meaning that the plan's projected appearance Town Meeting is in jeopardy.

Sept. 24, 2012 -- The Sun receives a written opinion from Town Counsel Pat Costello indicating that selectmen did not violate the charter by waiving the appointment deadline. The project is a go for Town Meeting.

Oct. 11, 2012 -- Town Meeting votes 133-59 in favor of a $9.8 million borrowing article, the biggest chunk of money needed to begin the $14 million project. The two-thirds majority support means the project is officially approved. Town Meeting Rep. George Simolaris vows to force a townwide referendum.

Oct. 24, 2012 -- Simolaris collects more than 1,400 petition signatures, easily besting the mark of 1,252 signatures from registered voters -- or approximately 5 percent of the town's total registered voters -- as mandated by the charter to prompt a referendum on any Town Meeting action.

Nov. 19, 2012 -- The day picked by selectmen, at the request of Town Clerk Shirley Schult, to hold the referendum. Simolaris and other opponents said holding the vote on a Monday instead of a Saturday will cut voter turnout.

The project needs at least two-thirds support at the polls to pass. but if fewer than 20 percent of the town's roughly 26,000 registered voters do not cast a ballot, the referendum will be void per the Town Charter.

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